Cove Bay Water System

About Cove Bay water

The Cove Bay water system services about 600 users in Snug Cove, Deep Bay, Miller's Landing, Scarborough, Cates Hill, Valhalla and Queen Charlotte Heights. About 100 users in Snug Cove are also served by the Cove Bay Sewer System.

Water for the Cove Bay system is supplied by Grafton Lake. It is drawn from the lake through an intake about 10 metres deep and is then chlorinated prior to distribution to water users. It is tested for chlorine residuals every day and samples are sent to Vancouver Coastal Health once a week.

Cove Bay water quality and colour

Increased turbidity after heavy rainfalls, and leaves and branches falling into Grafton Lake can increase water quality problems and can cause the water to turn yellow-brownish in the fall. Should you have concerns about the water quality, we recommend you boil all drinking water at a rapid boil for at least one minute. This will, however, not change its colour.

Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant Pilot Project to begin in 2017

When you’re passing by Grafton Lake this summer, you may notice a new structure sitting by the dam just off the side of the road. This container, expected to be fully installed mid-July, will house a mini water purification system that will serve as a pilot project to establish whether a proposed water treatment technology – ceramic ultra-filtration membrane process – will effectively treat Cove Bay water.

The overall goal of the project is to help provide clean, clear and safe drinking water to the more than 600 households that use the Cove Bay Water System.

The project was set in motion earlier this year when Bowen Island Municipality received a $3,890,367 grant from the joint Federal/Provincial Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Component. The grant represents a 2/3 share of the cost of the full-scale water treatment plant.

The pilot project is expected to be operational until the end of November, during which time water samples treated with the ceramic ultra-filtration membrane process will be analyzed, and municipal staff trained on the operation and maintenance of the system. The ceramic ultra-filtration membrane process – a technology developed in Canada – filters out bacteria, pathogens and organic matter in the water. This means less chlorine is required to be added to the water in order to meet Vancouver Coastal Health Authority’s Drinking Water Treatment Objective.

If the ceramic ultra-filtration membrane process is determined to be successful, Council will move forward with construction of the full-scale water treatment plant in 2018. In fall 2017, Council will consider options for funding the municipal 1/3 contribution to overall project costs.

Billing

Water meters are read three times through the year: April, August and December, with invoices following soon after. The invoice reflects the billing for the four month period between meter readings.

The flat rate of $205 covers the cost of maintenance and renewal of the water infrastructure as well as baseline operations. The average household uses less than 1 cubic metre of water per day. Property owners who use more than 34 cubic metres monthly – or 136 cubic metres within each of the four month billing cycles - will pay an excess use charge of $1.10 per cubic metre as per Bylaw No. 408, 2016.

Water Conservation

Bowen Island is taking steps towards a drought management plan by endorsing the Greater Vancouver Regional District Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP) in order to promote awareness about the importance of water conservation.

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Local Advisory Committee

The Cove Bay Water System Local Advisory Committee has advisory powers to Council regarding water system issues, and also reviews the operating and capital budgets for the utility. The Committee meets two to three times a year, including an annual information meeting where any users of the Cove Bay Water System are welcome to attend.

Cove Bay Water Annual Report 2016

This report has been prepared to support an application for an annual Ministry of Health Operating Permit issued by the Medical Health Officer as required by the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulation.